K-State Wildcats vs. Longwood Lancers: Basketball game time, TV, odds and prediction
The Kansas State men’s basketball team will play Longwood in the third place game of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam on Monday.
Here’s everything you need to know before tipoff, including a score prediction:
When: 4:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: UVI Sports & Fitness Center in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Stream: ESPN+
Radio: KCSP (610 AM) in Kansas City, KFH (1240 AM and 97.5 FM) in Wichita
Betting line: K-State by 10.5
Over/Under: 142.5
STARTING LINEUPS
P | No. | Longwood | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 0 | Johan Nziemi | 6-6 | Sr. | 9.6 |
F | 25 | Michael Christmas | 6-6 | Sr. | 10.9 |
G | 3 | Colby Garland | 6-1 | So. | 8.1 |
G | 1 | Kyrell Luc | 5-11 | Sr. | 8.0 |
G | 5 | KJ McClurg | 6-3 | Jr. | 14.3 |
P | No. | Kansas State | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
F | 33 | Coleman Hawkins | 6-10 | Sr. | 7.8 |
F | 1 | David N’Guessan | 6-9 | Sr. | 14.3 |
G | 2 | Max Jones | 6-4 | Sr. | 8.8 |
G | 11 | Brendan Hausen | 6-4 | Jr. | 13.3 |
G | 3 | CJ Jones | 6-5 | Jr. | 7.5 |
About Longwood (6-1)
The Lancers won their first game at the Paradise Jam 89-81 against UAB and then lost in the semifinals 84-69 to McNeese State. Longwood began the season with five straight wins before that. This team is excellent at defending the 3-point line, as it only allows teams to shoot 23.6% from beyond the arc. On offense, it scores mostly at the free-throw line. The Lancers rank ninth nationally in free-throw rate. KJ McClurg is their leading scorer.
About Kansas State (4-2)
The Wildcats are off to a discouraging start, despite a winning record. Early losses against LSU and Liberty have cast doubt on this team’s ability to contend for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. K-State has dropped to No. 50 in Bart Torvik’s national college basketball ratings database. It’s even worse at Ken Pomeroy, where the Wildcats are No. 73. K-State can ill afford more losses. They will try to turn things around behind David N’Guessan and Brendan Hausen against Longwood.
K-State game prediction
The Wildcats should win this game in the paint.
K-State big men like Coleman Hawkins, Achor Achor, David N’Guessan and Ugonna Onyenso should be able to score at will against a small Longwood front court that allows teams to make 57.3% of their shots from within the arc.
Jerome Tang would be wise to instruct his guards to send the ball into the paint and let the Wildcats dominate around the basket.
Longwood plays strong defense on the perimeter, so Brendan Hausen might not have a big game. But K-State can more than make up for that inside.
K-State 78, Longwood 65
Last game prediction: K-State 72, Liberty 66
Actual score: Liberty 67, K-State 65
Season record: 4-2
Season record ATS: 2-4
Season record O/U: 3-3.